Does ANYONE kayak fish in/near Anchorage???

[EglinRed]

Hello everyone! I'm new to this wonderful site, and somewhat new to this Great State. I'm an avid kayak fisherman, but green to these waters and fisheries. Does anyone kayak fish here? Are there any kayak angler clubs?

 

[Kardinal_84]

Saw you r other post. I fish hard but just started to use my Kayak here in Alaska. There are a TON of places and fish to catch here. My only limitation has been that I am the only one of my friends who has a kayak. Gets a little hairy paddling as a novice alone in Whittier or Seward. I have a few friends that kayak for kayaking's sake but I can't do that. It's like Hiking. I can walk 5 miles of River in a day but no way can i just go walk around the woods. lol.

I can't say there is much to decent fishing right around Anchorage that I am aware of but a million places to try within a 2 hour drive...and with a little more experience.

The link on my signature page is what I used to do. Almost 100% salmon fishing. I have been trying to expand that a bit.

 

[Sierra Dragon]

I've been planning to get into it but haven't' yet. I kayaked quite a bit in high school but ran out of time with college and then kids. Kids are getting old enough now I can start to plan to get back into the kayaking but the years of neglect have left me sorely out of shape and overweight. So this year the plan is to lose the 50lbs of daddy weight, and do some conditioning first then buy and rig out a Kayak for next year (thinking the dagger Axis would make an excellent fishing rig for Alaska)

couple places I'd like to try kayak fishing out of.

Willow, little willow or any of the parks streams for Kings..
both Little Sue or Kasilof rivers would both be awesome for kayak angling for Kings in my opinion...

there are quite a few people who water taxi out of Seward and Whittier to remote sheltered coves for fishing... but I would say Prince William sound is not a place for un-escorted/un-guided beginner kayaking... but then I'm a whitewater guy by training and the ocean is full of unfamiliar and therefore dangerous hazards. The boat harbor at Whittier would be a good place to try though at the right time of year.

I've seen reports of people who go out in Cook Inlet and Resurrection Bay chasing Salmon Sharks and Halibut out of kayaks. I suspect though they have a support boat, and that seem all a bit extreme for my taste.

for silvers in addition to the rivers above, Jim creek, Rabbit slough, portage creek, Campbell creek and eagle river would both be great to tackle with a kayak.

I've always wanted to get a kayak out at the Eklutna tail race and troll the hole at the confluence from the Knik or upper Ship creek at high tide as there are spots I KNOW the fish are hanging out but are just out of casting range, but thats probably asking for a hook in the head from a jealous shore angler

and then there are dozens of remote lakes that would be right about perfect to chase rainbows in. as well as the upper Kenai which people float regularly.

There are likely no shortage of places to try out within a 3 hr drive of anchorage.

 

[Kardinal_84]

Sierra Dragon...your situation is a lot like mine. Used to fish like Crazy. Then in about 2002 it all stopped with marriage and kids. Now I am back!!! Well the original me plus 30 or 40 pounds!

I am not an experienced Kayaker so maybe I am being more daring than I should. But I have flipped a canoe on a small stream as a kid, narrowly avoided sweepers in a drift boat, and flipped a kayak in PWS. In those situations I think I felt the safest in PWS. No current, just bobbing around with my PFD, and LOTS of other boats and people around if I couldn't self rescue. The water was NOT instant Hypothermia but of course it was in July.

Part of my attraction to the salt is that in a stream or river, the kayak becomes just a method of transportation from spot to spot. In the Saltwater you can fish while transiting. The variety of fish also seems better in the saltwater and finally I don't need two vehicles.

My first trip of the year, I plan to head to Whittier around April 15. I think there will be increased activity in Whittier with the start of the shrimping season so I want to go check that out and see if I can't catch some herring and whatever happens to latch on to the Herring that I catch and stick back on a hook. I hate to admit it, but I am under orders to stock up the freezer with some herring since my family LOVES to eat them. I will likely launch from Smitties Cove and paddle toward the ferry docks watching my sonar and looking for baitfish. I also have friends that shrimp from larger boats so I may hitch a ride with them out to Blackstone Bay and have them drop me off while they go wherever they go to kill time.

When I lived in Kenai, my first open water trip from shore was always Homer to cast off the spit fro Cod and whatever else. Just great unlimited casting range, used all my rods, get them rady for summer. So I am hoping I can catch something that early in Whittier. Knowing what I know about the saltwater environment, I will be amazed if something isn't out there to give you a tug at the end of your line. That's all I am looking for early in the season.

This weather has me getting all excited. I know summer is still a ways out but I can't help but to feel spring is around the corner!!!!!

 

[hbons]

Kardinal 84, I don't know if you've ever launched from Honey Beach, but you can park right at the launch and it was only something like $5 for parking last year. Its right next to the ferry terminal. Honey Charters operated it last year, but from their website it looks like there are new owners. Hopefully its the same this year. I'm like you, I prefer the salt and can't wait for the season to begin. If you like shrimping, there's a guy named pot builder on the forum that makes smaller folding "kayak" sized pots. I tried mine out last year, but didn't know what I was doing and didn't catch anything. It was something else fun to do out of the kayak.

 

[Sierra Dragon]

I am not an experienced Kayaker so maybe I am being more daring than I should. But I have flipped a canoe on a small stream as a kid, narrowly avoided sweepers in a drift boat, and flipped a kayak in PWS. In those situations I think I felt the safest in PWS. No current, just bobbing around with my PFD, and LOTS of other boats and people around if I couldn't self rescue. The water was NOT instant Hypothermia but of course it was in July. ...

This weather has me getting all excited. I know summer is still a ways out but I can't help but to feel spring is around the corner!!!!!

I hear ya loud and clear on the "spring around the corner" vibe... Last spring I scratched the itch by refinishing a canoe in the garage.... no such luck this year.

as for the hazards it's really what you're used to... canoes in small streams, sweepers in rafts, bailed from flipped kayaks in holes I misjudged... badly, I've done that kind of thing many a times... (far more than my guardian angel should have had to deal with truth be known) river hazards I'm familiar with and a) know better now to avoid, b) know what to do when it happens c) am prepared to deal with the after effects.

But I grew up on the prairies in the shadow of the easter slopes of the rockies, the ocean is a big unknown, I don't know how the tides, currents, winds etc and all that work. so I'm a bit cautious... i'd be comfortable with close in to Whittier or Seward but out in the coves where the charter boats go is probably a little irresponsible until I can get educated. besides when I was 18 it was just me... now I have 5 others who depend on me to not be stupid. Kinda makes a guy get a little cautious...

I'm still debating... I may end up caving in buying the Yak this year anyway... I'm restraining myself (trying to teach the kids responsible finances and all) but posts like these are making it hard to resist.... (goal first..then reward!!!)

 

[Kardinal_84]

I hear ya loud and clear on the "spring around the corner" vibe... Last spring I scratched the itch by refinishing a canoe in the garage.... no such luck this year.

as for the hazards it's really what you're used to... canoes in small streams, sweepers in rafts, bailed from flipped kayaks in holes I misjudged... badly, I've done that kind of thing many a times... (far more than my guardian angel should have had to deal with truth be known) river hazards I'm familiar with and a) know better now to avoid, b) know what to do when it happens c) am prepared to deal with the after effects.

But I grew up on the prairies in the shadow of the easter slopes of the rockies, the ocean is a big unknown, I don't know how the tides, currents, winds etc and all that work. so I'm a bit cautious... i'd be comfortable with close in to Whittier or Seward but out in the coves where the charter boats go is probably a little irresponsible until I can get educated. besides when I was 18 it was just me... now I have 5 others who depend on me to not be stupid. Kinda makes a guy get a little cautious...

I'm still debating... I may end up caving in buying the Yak this year anyway... I'm restraining myself (trying to teach the kids responsible finances and all) but posts like these are making it hard to resist.... (goal first..then reward!!!)

Alright, new goal in life..."Get out in my Kayak, land some big fish, document it, post it, and force you to buy a Kayak sooner than later." I am not sure what good it does me other than getting me out...you sound too fiscally responsible and have too much concerns for the proper priorities to hang with me...lol. Just kidding of course though I probably could learn something from you!

I know what you mean about posts that get ya worked up for the upcoming season. I can blame people including you...I ended up ordering a pirahana max 160 portable sonar today for the kayak. Last one worked great...until I flipped my kayak. Live and learn!

 

[Sierra Dragon]

I can blame people including you...I ended up ordering a pirahana max 160 portable sonar today for the kayak. Last one worked great...until I flipped my kayak. Live and learn!

I did that last year too with the canoe. You would think fishfinders would be somewhat waterproof..

I have to wait till after my birthday on pain of death but I'm watching this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Humminbird-PiranhaMAX-Waterproof-Fishfinder-Transducer/dp/B001DTUTIK/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I2PKFKC542CABR&colid=1XRKYRMDLQ31V

 

[kayak4fish]

I do a bit of kayak fishing near anchorage and also near anchor point and homer. I have been doing it for years. Whittier is pretty awesome for kayak fishing. Valdez is amazing but watch for sharks and sea otters. No saltwater fishing near anchorage due to the water content and mud.

 

[Kardinal_84]

I do a bit of kayak fishing near anchorage and also near anchor point and homer. I have been doing it for years. Whittier is pretty awesome for kayak fishing. Valdez is amazing but watch for sharks and sea otters. No saltwater fishing near anchorage due to the water content and mud.

So when you fish Anchor Point, how far do you end up drifting? In theory I suppose you can end up where you started but was wondering what the reality of the situation is. Even if I couldn't muster the confidence to fish the inlet in my kayak, I could see using the kayak to get my shore based bait out with the new regulations along the beaches I read about.

 

[cod]

I used to do a fair amount of kayak fishing. When I lived in Anch. I hit the lakes in the Valley a lot. Kalmbach (spelling?) Finger, Long lake, amounst my faves. The last decade I been on the kenai pen. and have tackled the kings just off the beach near Ninilchik. I have a Current Designs 'Pisces' w. fishfinder and rod holder on it. And Yes, when the current (tide) is running you paddle and make slow progress against current but fly "with the tide". I ran into a fella last summer on the beach who showed me his kayak and pics of him landing 40# halibut out in front of Deep Crk salt water. He used one of those sit on top designs. It was decked out nicely for fishing and he seemed to have the bugs wk'd out for the most part. (like landing big fish, etc). As of late, Kardinal, I have discovered surf cast fishing from shore for my fishing fix. No need to worry about rolling my yak offshore, cold water, no one around. Plus like u'all said...a few more pounds and age....well, it used to be fun!

 

[alexus]

I did that last year too with the canoe. You would think fishfinders would be somewhat waterproof..

 

[fishr3]

Hello my name is fishr3 and yes I am a kayakfisherman. This summer will be my second season of kayakfishing in Alaska. Last summer I got experience and this summer I hope to get fish on. I fly fished Little Campbell Lake in Anchorage and Long-Lake and Canoe Lake in Kepler Bradley lakes area. I also paddled up Jim Creek from Knik river. I saw some really nice silvers in Jim Creek but decided to paddle more and fish less. I would be interested in meeting up for a river float/fishing trip. With the high cost of gas, carpooling is definitely worth planning. I'm hoping to kayakfish Willow Creek, Little Susitna, and Jim Creek.

 

[Sierra Dragon]

AHGGG the conundrum.. I have the cash for the kayak but not to outfit it. sigh!!!

anyway fishr3 I'd like to try all those too I'd aslo add Eagle River, Little Willow, Placer, and Kasiliof to your list Carpooling would be appreciated especially as that allows someone at the begining and end for dropoff and pickup.